.40 over 9mm

[NU9MM]

Recoil with pistols which were designed for .40S&W, such as the M&P40, SIG P320 40, HK VP40 is quite noticeably softer and less "snappy" than it is with Glock 40s.

The reputation of the .40S&W caliber being "snappy" comes from people who have fired .40S&W only from Glock pistols.

My favorite forties are the M&P40 and the P320 40. Both are VERY soft shooting guns, which make shooting .40S&W feel more like 9mm target loads.

My Glock forties (G23 and G22) are relegated to safe-queen status. I did convert my G23 to 9mm, making it just a bit nicer to shoot 9mm than my G19 - due to the heavier conversion barrel.

I actually loved my old S&W model 411 .40. I'm going to go to a range next weekend and rent a M&P.40 2.0 compact.

 

[No_Regerts]

Recoil with pistols which were designed for .40S&W, such as the M&P40, SIG P320 40, HK VP40 is quite noticeably softer and less "snappy" than it is with Glock 40s.

The reputation of the .40S&W caliber being "snappy" comes from people who have fired .40S&W only from Glock pistols.

My favorite forties are the M&P40 and the P320 40. Both are VERY soft shooting guns, which make shooting .40S&W feel more like 9mm target loads.

My Glock forties (G23 and G22) are relegated to safe-queen status. I did convert my G23 to 9mm, making it just a bit nicer to shoot 9mm than my G19 - due to the heavier conversion barrel.

Ive noticed that many who have had bad experiences shooting a 40, shot it out of a Glock 23.

 

[DHart]

I actually love my old S&W model 411 .40. I'm going to go to a range next weekend and rent a M&P.40 2.0 compact.

I think you're going to really enjoy the M&P 2.0 .40S&W.

 

[DHart]

Ive noticed that many who have had bad experiences shooting a 40, shot it out of a Glock 23.

Could not agree more... G23 and G27 have most certainly created that "snappy" reputation, a reputation that does not apply to ALL .40S&W pistols, and particularly not to the M&P and P320 forties, among others.

 

[No_Regerts]

Could not agree more... G23 and G27 have most certainly created that "snappy" reputation, a reputation that does not apply to ALL .40S&W pistols, and particularly not to the M&P and P320 forties, among others.

My M&P40 2.0 is pretty soft shooting. Love it, and the caliber.

 

[NU9MM]

Ive noticed that many who have had bad experiences shooting a 40, shot it out of a Glock 23.

Mine was out of my Glock 22. That I traded in on my Gen 1 M&P FS 9mm.

 

[Pandaz3]

My little Taurus PT-140 does not shoot "Too Tough to Tame", it seems pretty mild mannered to me, accurate too. I don't own a 'tough' or 'snappy' 40 except my Charter Arms Pitbull, but it is not really terrible like my 45 ACP version Pitbull.
I did help one of my 10 MM's with a slightly stronger recoil spring (22# from 20#) so maybe a simple spring change would hep a 'snappy' auto.

 

[orygun]

orygun When I was a reserve police officer I carried a 4" 586 and ran magnum rounds all the time. And yes it had a little snap.

I wish I'd kept my 686+, but foolishly sold it.... I never shot anything but "Full House" loads out of it. Snappy, yes, but accurate and powerful.
The gun in my avatar pic is it's "replacement", a Model 69. (L-frame 44 Mag) I really like it, but still often times wish I had that 686+ back.

 

[NU9MM]

I wish I'd kept my 686+, but foolishly sold it.... I never shot anything but "Full House" loads out of it. Snappy, yes, but accurate and powerful.
The gun in my avatar pic is it's "replacement", a Model 69. (L-frame 44 Mag) I really like it, but still often times wish I had that 686+ back.

I feel your pain wish I would've never sold my 586.

 

[NU9MM]

So in the 40 caliber what is the best defensive round as far as bullet grain weight I know a lot of guys use the 124 grain or 147 grain 9mm. I use critical duty in my 9.

 

[The Heretic]

So in the 40 caliber what is the best defensive round as far as bullet grain weight I know a lot of guys use the 124 grain or 147 grain 9mm. I use critical duty in my 9.

I think it depends on what you are using to shoot it.

With a short barreled gun - i.e., a compact or sub-compact, it might be better to go with 155-165 grains to keep the velocity adequate for expansion, and also to keep the recoil down. Sub-compacts have a shorter distance for the slide to travel with a shorter recoil spring, so the recoil is sharper (along with what is usually a lighter weight gun and slide).

I prefer 180 grain for a mid size to full sized gun.

But the design of the projectile is just as important - as is shot placement.

 

[Pandaz3]

Most of my 40 are 3.5" or less and I use Underwood 155 Grain XTP's mostly I have some 135 and 150 Grain JHP by Underwood as well as 180 Grain, but I'm settling on 155 XTP's

 

[NU9MM]

I think it depends on what you are using to shoot it.

With a short barreled gun - i.e., a compact or sub-compact, it might be better to go with 155-165 grains to keep the velocity adequate for expansion, and also to keep the recoil down. Sub-compacts have a shorter distance for the slide to travel with a shorter recoil spring, so the recoil is sharper (along with what is usually a lighter weight gun and slide).

I prefer 180 grain for a mid size to full sized gun.

But the design of the projectile is just as important - as is shot placement.

I'm definitely looking at the 2.0 . 40c in either 4" or 3.6" not sure if how much accuracy difference there is.

 

[Pandaz3]

I have both as yet un-shot, be at least two weeks before I shoot them. I don't expect much difference in accuracy. The shorter one will be for a 357 Sig Conversion. Like the 2.0 trigger.

 

[DHart]

So in the 40 caliber what is the best defensive round as far as bullet grain weight I know a lot of guys use the 124 grain or 147 grain 9mm. I use critical duty in my 9.

180 gr Federal HST for me. Very good stuff.

 

[The Heretic]

180 gr Federal HST for me. Very good stuff.

Federal has a new 'deep penetrator' HST. Most of their HST is good stuff. I have some Winchester 'white box' 180 gr. bonded JHP that has good reviews.

 

[titsonritz]

If I'm jumping up from 9mm, I'm leaping to 45acp.

 

[The Heretic]

If I'm jumping up from 9mm, I'm leaping to 45acp.

Sharper recoil, heavier larger guns (in general), less capacity in the same sized gun. I have 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP. I find the .40 a good compromise between 9mm and .45 ACP. Closer to power/penetration to the .45 ACP than the 9mm, closer to 9mm capacity than the .45 ACP. In between with recoil.

Also, I can swap back and forth between 9mm and .40 with a simple barrel change with my SIGs. Can't do that between 9mm and .45 ACP.

 

[DHart]

Sharper recoil, heavier larger guns (in general), less capacity in the same sized gun. I have 9mm, .40 and .45 ACP. I find the .40 a good compromise between 9mm and .45 ACP. Closer to power/penetration to the .45 ACP than the 9mm, closer to 9mm capacity than the .45 ACP. In between with recoil.

Also, I can swap back and forth between 9mm and .40 with a simple barrel change with my SIGs. Can't do that between 9mm and .45 ACP.

.45 is a great round. Unfortunately, it has dramatically reduced capacity for the same size platform as .40S&W.

Fortunately, .40S&W performs quite well as compared to .45auto, and brings much higher capacity, and less recoil. A wonderful combination of potency/capacity/and moderate recoil.

I have and shoot the wide range of defense calibers, from a wide range of gun models. But my #1 choice when I go out the door is .40S&W. Platform: M&P. For me... it's got all the right qualities in one great shooting pistol.

 

[NU9MM]

I do believe I see this in my near future.